My Thoughts on Vaccinatons
Warning: This Post May Offend...
Earlier this week, I took my sweet, snuggly baby to the doctor to get her first round of shots. She was pleasant as ever in the waiting room, even earned herself several compliments from the nursing staff on her cute smile.
That's my baby. She's an adorable happy-go-lucky munchkin until suddenly she's not. Until today, I've only seen the "suddenly she's not" side of her when I take her out of the bath. Girl does not like being cozy and warm, then suddenly cold and wet....
Anyway, as a first time mommy, I knew this experience would be unpleasant for the both of us.
The nurse arrived and we stripped off her pants. I braced her little arms, singing her favorite tune, "Patty Cake" as the nurse inserted one shot into her thigh.
Her face turned tomato red and her brows furrowed.
The second shot.
Her face a deep blood red she opened her mouth a wailed.
The third shot.
The wail weakened and a slow whimper escaped.
"She's done," said the nurse.
I scooped her up in my arms. She wrapped her tiny limbs around my neck and burrowed her cheeks into my shoulder. My poor sweet baby had just endured 3 shots in her teeny little thighs.
But I didn't feel as bad as I thought I would.
"You hate this now, baby girl, but you'll thank me later," I said.
I read story after story about the Disneyland measles outbreak. An infected someone or family visited the park on a certain date.
Now a once unheard of disease has infected a handful of Disneyland patrons.
Now it has spread around Southern California, in places like my home town, in restaurants I used to frequent.
Now it has spread to neighboring states.
Thank goodness my little one got the vaccine, right? Wrong. The measles vaccine is given at one year.
My munchkin is only approaching 3 months.
I don't want to cause a heated debate, but all I see when read these measles headlines is 'YOUR DAUGHTER COULD CATCH THE MEASLES!!!!' And then I wish to myself that those parents, instead of believing some random blogger's opinion, or some stupid celebrity, actually did their research.
So instead of this measles outbreak we'd be sitting pretty -- and healthy -- as a population of vaccinated people. Until then, I have to pray that the next time I take my daughter to the grocery store she doesn't catch the measles.
And no, I don't feel bad that she had a day of discomfort, because now she's protected against several illnesses. Not only is she immune, but the chances of her spreading these illness to unvaccinated kids is slim to none. So while I spent the rest of the day snuggling with a whimpering baby, I still felt good about my decision because I'm taking responsibility for her life and for the lives of others around her.
Anyway, who doesn't love a day of snuggles with an adorable baby?
Not sure how to sign off on this post---
J
Earlier this week, I took my sweet, snuggly baby to the doctor to get her first round of shots. She was pleasant as ever in the waiting room, even earned herself several compliments from the nursing staff on her cute smile.
That's my baby. She's an adorable happy-go-lucky munchkin until suddenly she's not. Until today, I've only seen the "suddenly she's not" side of her when I take her out of the bath. Girl does not like being cozy and warm, then suddenly cold and wet....
Anyway, as a first time mommy, I knew this experience would be unpleasant for the both of us.
The nurse arrived and we stripped off her pants. I braced her little arms, singing her favorite tune, "Patty Cake" as the nurse inserted one shot into her thigh.
Her face turned tomato red and her brows furrowed.
The second shot.
Her face a deep blood red she opened her mouth a wailed.
The third shot.
The wail weakened and a slow whimper escaped.
"She's done," said the nurse.
I scooped her up in my arms. She wrapped her tiny limbs around my neck and burrowed her cheeks into my shoulder. My poor sweet baby had just endured 3 shots in her teeny little thighs.
But I didn't feel as bad as I thought I would.
"You hate this now, baby girl, but you'll thank me later," I said.
I read story after story about the Disneyland measles outbreak. An infected someone or family visited the park on a certain date.
Now a once unheard of disease has infected a handful of Disneyland patrons.
Now it has spread around Southern California, in places like my home town, in restaurants I used to frequent.
Now it has spread to neighboring states.
Thank goodness my little one got the vaccine, right? Wrong. The measles vaccine is given at one year.
My munchkin is only approaching 3 months.
I don't want to cause a heated debate, but all I see when read these measles headlines is 'YOUR DAUGHTER COULD CATCH THE MEASLES!!!!' And then I wish to myself that those parents, instead of believing some random blogger's opinion, or some stupid celebrity, actually did their research.
So instead of this measles outbreak we'd be sitting pretty -- and healthy -- as a population of vaccinated people. Until then, I have to pray that the next time I take my daughter to the grocery store she doesn't catch the measles.
And no, I don't feel bad that she had a day of discomfort, because now she's protected against several illnesses. Not only is she immune, but the chances of her spreading these illness to unvaccinated kids is slim to none. So while I spent the rest of the day snuggling with a whimpering baby, I still felt good about my decision because I'm taking responsibility for her life and for the lives of others around her.
Anyway, who doesn't love a day of snuggles with an adorable baby?
Not sure how to sign off on this post---
J
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